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Monday, December 30, 2013

The Promise of AmazingBy: Robin ConstantineReleased: December 31, 2013Source: EdelweissPurchase the Book: Amazon*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review"Wren Caswell is average. Ranked in the middle of her class at Sacred Heart, she’s not popular, but not a social misfit. Wren is the quiet, “good” girl who's always done what she's supposed to—only now in her junior year, this passive strategy is backfiring. She wants to change, but doesn’t know how. Grayson Barrett was the king of St. Gabe’s. Star of the lacrosse team, top of his class, on a fast track to a brilliant future—until he was expelled for being a “term paper pimp.” Now Gray is in a downward spiral and needs to change, but doesn’t know how. One fateful night their paths cross when Wren, working at her family’s Arthurian-themed catering hall, performs the Heimlich on Gray as he chokes on a cocktail weenie, saving his life literally and figuratively. What follows is the complicated, awkward, hilarious, and tender tale of two teens shedding their pasts, figuring out who they are—and falling in love." (Summary from goodreads.com)I liked The Promise of Amazing. It was a captivating and quick read.Wren is a quiet "good" girl who works at her family's catering hall. While working one night she saves Gray's life when he is choking. After that Gray and Wren just can't seem to stay away from each other. I thought that both Wren and Gray were developed well. However, I have to say that I was not much of a fan of either of these characters. I liked Wren and I could relate to her on some aspects. She is really quiet. Then when compared to her siblings and friends, she is average. What made me not like her that much were the decisions she kept on making. I think that she was too easily manipulated. I also don't think that her friends were good influences for her. Then there is Gray and I really did want to like him, but I couldn't. He is a jerk and he has these sweet moments, but to me he just remained that jerk. The plot kept me hooked and I read this book in one day. There was a lot more drama going on than I expected there to be from the summary and I liked that. Gray has quite the past and it gets him into trouble. I also really liked that the chapters alternated between Gray and Wren. I thought that both characters had strong voices. My favorite aspect of this story was definitely the family storylines though. Wren has two older siblings and her family owns a catering hall. While Gray's parents are both divorced and remarried. Both characters had interesting family lives that were both very different from each other.Overall, I liked The Promise of Amazing.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

Say What You Will

By: Cammie McGovern

Release Date: June 3, 2014

"I want someone who will talk to me honestly about things. You're the only person who ever has. Maybe you don't know this, but when you're disabled almost no one tells you the truth. They feel too awkward because the truth seems too sad, I guess. You were very brave to walk up to the crippled girl and say, essentially, wipe that sunny expression off your face and look at reality. That's what I want you to do next year. Tell me the truth. That's all. Amy and Matthew didn't know each other, really. They weren't friends. Matthew remembered her, sure, but he remembered a lot of people from elementary school that he wasn't friends with now. Matthew never planned to tell Amy what he thought of her cheerful facade, but after he does, Amy realizes she needs someone like him in her life. As they begin to spend more time with each other, Amy learns that Matthew has his own secrets and she decides to try to help him in the same way he's helped her. And when what started out as a friendship turns into something neither of them expected, they realize that they tell each other everything—except the one thing that matters most" (Summary from goodreads.com)

Monday, December 23, 2013

Racing SavannahBy: Miranda KenneallyReleased: December 3, 2013Source: NetgalleyPurchase the Book: Amazon*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review"They’re from two different worlds. He
lives in the estate house, and she spends most of her time in the
stables helping her father train horses. In fact, Savannah has always
been much more comfortable around horses than boys. Especially boys like
Jack Goodwin—cocky, popular and completely out of her league. She knows
the rules: no mixing between the staff and the Goodwin family. But Jack
has no such boundaries. With her dream of becoming a horse
jockey, Savannah isn’t exactly one to follow the rules either. She’s not
going to let someone tell her a girl isn’t tough enough to race. Sure,
it’s dangerous. Then again, so is dating Jack…" (Summary from goodreads.com)

I've really enjoyed all of Miranda Kenneally's previous books and Racing Savannah is definitely another great contemporary story. Once I started reading, I couldn't walk away from this story for long.

Savannah has just moved with her dad to the Goodwin estate where her dad will work with the horses. She doesn't want to be stuck in the same life that her dad is in. While Jack Goodwin is given the opportunity to prove to his dad that he is capable of running the business by himself. Both characters are really different and come from different backgrounds, but they do discover that they share a few similarities. For the most part, I did like Savannah and Jack. I thought they were developed fairly well. They are far from being my favorite characters in the Hundred Oaks series, but I still found myself really caring about these characters.

I especially thought that Savannah was the more interesting character. I loved the moments where she was selfless and stood up for what she wanted. However, she still had her flaws too. Then I loved seeing the characters from the past Hundred Oaks books make an appearance.

The plot was really interesting and immediately hooked me in. It had a good balance of drama and romance. I especially enjoyed learning more about horses and horse racing. I loved the setting at the Goodwin estate. Kenneally really made me feel like I was at the stables with the horses and at the horse races watching in anticipation to see who would win the race. For most of the book the pacing moving along well, but the last few chapters felt rushed to me.Overall I really enjoyed Racing Savannah. I strongly recommend any of the Hundred Oaks books to any contemporary fans. I can't wait to read Kenneally's next book.

This
year I thought I would do something different with my end of the year
wrap up. For the next few days I will be featuring different Young Adult
bloggers who will talk about what their favorite books were from 2013.

For the last day, I will be sharing my favorite book from 2013.

It's tough to choose just one, but my favorite book from 2013 is This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales.

I loved This Song Will Save Your Life because it had a great plot, a strong voice, and well developed characters. I loved how music played a role in this book too. It was just a really beautiful story that I can read over and over again.

One of my absolute favorite quotes from This Song Will Save Your Life is:

"You think it's so easy to change yourself. You think it's so easy, but
it's not. True, things don't stay the same forever: couches are
replaced, boys leave, you discover a song, your body becomes forever
scarred. And with each of these moments you change and change again,
your true self spinning, shifting positions-- but always at last it
returns to you, like a dancer on the floor. Because throughout it all,
you are still, always, you: beautiful and bruised, known and unknowable.
And isn't that - just you - enough." - Leila SalesYou can read my full review for This Song Will Save Your Life here: http://thereadinggeek.blogspot.com/2013/09/this-song-will-save-your-life-by-leila.html

Saturday, December 21, 2013

This
year I thought I would do something different with my end of the year
wrap up. For the next few days I will be featuring different Young Adult
bloggers who will talk about what their favorite books were from 2013.

This
book really connected with me and honestly there isn't a reason. It was
easy to read, and I got absorbed into the story quickly. The characters
were very well developed an I thought this wasn't just they typical YA
romance novel because it had a few twists. The cover is simply beautiful
and the title is unique, both things really improve my attitude going
Into the book. I loved that it brought God and religion in but in a very
low key way, because I enjoy that aspect wen it isn't overpowering. I
just had a magnificent time reading this book!

3.)What was your favorite quote from Prodigal?

I had two so here they are:

“It's
just not that easy answer you want wrapped up in a pretty, little bow.
Nothing real ever is, but that doesn't mean it's hopeless.”

“People lie to themselves all the time. If they lie to themselves, how can you expect them not to lie to you?”

The thing I really loved about Pivot
Point was how West shows you two possible futures for the main
character, Addison. Neither of them actually happen but to her it feels
real. When she comes back she has to decide which future she wants to
live and then she'll relive it all over again. However, the future she
doesn't choose never happens so she will have memories of events,
people, ect that no one else will because it didn't happen to them. It's
such an interesting and unique story idea. It's a story that really
makes you think about what you would do if you were in that situation.
The characters, writing, and plot are all amazing.

3.)What was your favorite quote from Pivot Point?

He takes a deep breath. "I want you to choose me, Addie," he whispers. "I want this to be real."

Friday, December 20, 2013

This
year I thought I would do something different with my end of the year
wrap up. For the next few days I will be featuring different Young Adult
bloggers who will talk about what their favorite books were from 2013.

Meet Dreams from Once Upon a Dream Books:Hello, I'm Dreams, and my blog Once Upon A Dream Books (http://adreamfrommyheart.blogspot.com)
is still a baby in the book blogger world. But after reading nearly one
thousand books in the last few years, my reviews and recommendations
needed a place to call their own. From an early age, I've always been a
fan of books, but lately it seems like reading has become an intricate
part of my life. After all, there really is nothing else better than a
good book and a nice, comfy couch to waste the hours away.

1.) What was your favorite book from 2013?

This is such a tough choice, to me it
seemed like 2013 was the year of majorly awesome books. Yes, I did just
say 'majorly awesome.' But, if forced to pick one, I'd say Water (Elements of Power #2) by Heather James. (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18005818-water)

2.)Why was Water your favorite book of 2013?

This is probably one of the lesser known books that I
have read this year, and also one of the ones I was looking forward to
most. It has all the hallmarks of a great book: well written, generated
emotional attachment/involvement, interesting world. The story picked up
right were book one left off, and was fun and entertaining. But it was
the characters that really sold this book for me. These guys are
complex, and felt very real with their responses and decisions. Some are
admirable and you want to be their friend, other are despicable and
you'd shy away from them. Then there the ones that are are so ambiguous,
you don't know where they truly fall on the moral scale because they
are so great at presenting different faces. Even when they are "bad" you
have to wonder if you knew their true motivations, would they still be
considered bad? Any author who can make me love and hate a character at
the same time for his/her actions deserves an award. If
you want to sell me a book, sell me the characters. I may slush through
any book that has it's dull moments, but I will never fight the desire
to skim through a book with poorly written characters. If the characters
win me over early on, I am in it for the long hall, no matter the
genre.

3.)What was your favorite quote from Water?

"Why did it feel like lately all I was doing was waiting to be rescued? By useless boys, too." (Roxy)

Just
one! So hard! I'm going to go ahead and talk about my favorite debut
novel that hasn't gotten as much attention as it should, rather than
throw out new series installments that you already know and love
yourselves! I was a big fan of THE BURNING SKY by Sherry Thomas. It's a
book that snuck up on me, one I received for review without knowing
anything about it, one I sort of dragged my feet over. AND I LOVED IT.

2.)Why was The Burning Sky your favorite book of 2013?

Action! Adventure! Mystery!
Intrigue! Deception! Romance! What more do you want in a book?
HarperCollins' Balzer + Bray imprint always puts out great, engaging
fantasy. I often want to read a book just because it's from this imprint
(And their other imprint, Greenwillow Books, is also fabulous). THE
BURNING SKY is no exception. I read it with no expectations, and
finished wanting more. There should be more buzz surrounding THE
BURNING SKY than there is. It was unputdownable, a book not to be
forgotten. It lingers with you when the last page is done, making it
impossible to just dive into something new right away. It's also blurbed by fantasy authors I
love such as Rae Carson, Sarah J. Maas, Marie Lu, and Cinda Williams
Chima. It has aspects of beloved series, while still remaining wholly
its own entity, and is recommended as "Kristin Cashore meets Cinda
Williams Chima"...with a dash of Tamora Pierce for good measure! If you
love high fantasy, this is exactly your cup of tea!

3.)What was your favorite quote from The Burning Sky?

"And
think no more on the exact hour of your death, prince. That moment must
come to all mortals. When you will have done what you need to do, you
will have lived long enough."~pg. 330

Thursday, December 19, 2013

This
year I thought I would do something different with my end of the year
wrap up. For the next few days I will be featuring different Young Adult
bloggers who will talk about what their favorite books were from 2013.

1.) What was your favorite book from 2013? Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn

2.) Why was Another Little Piece your favorite book of 2013?Out of the many books I’ve read this year, one of my favorite—a total stick-out compared to the others I’ve read—would have to be Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn. This one totally knocked my socks off and really affected my reading experience. Such a great novel! I have to say I’ve read nothing else like it and that makes me very happy. I’ve basically told all my bookworm friends that they need to read this book during some point in their lives. So, if you’ve not read it, read it!Read all of Millie's review of Another Little Piece here: http://milliedswords.blogspot.com/2013/05/another-little-piece-by-kate-karyus.html

There were so many amazing books published this year but one of my favourites would have to be Girl Defective by Simmone Howell (Side note: this book is Australian but I know it will be out in the US soon)

2.)Why was Girl Defective your favorite book of 2013?

I love immediate writing, books where you’re immersed in the MC’s head from the start and that’s what Girl Defective
is like. From the first line I knew I would love it. Everything is so
real and rich, all the characters layered. It’s the story of one girl
finding herself, amongst her strange family, overshadowing best friend
and the kind of mystery that peeks out at you but few would actually
pursue.

3.)What was your favorite quote from Girl Defective?

I can’t choose!

"I had a
shock of yearning, of wishing I was Nancy. The feeling was sharp and it
carried a shadow. I was always on the edge of something that was never
going to happen.”

"Sometimes I’d see Dad look at my brother
and feel the acid tang of jealousy in the back of my mouth. I’d flash on
Gully at four saying, ‘I’m a boy and Dad’s a boy but Sky is a GIRL.’
And I’d feel cursed and isolated and defective.”

“I liked the
records to all be leaning the right way, facing me, full of promise. As I
looked at their shiny faces I felt a mix of awe and sadness, Music was
everything: the whole stinging ringing pulse of being human was in here
pressed against each other.”

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

This
year I thought I would do something different with my end of the year
wrap up. For the next few days I will be featuring different Young Adult
bloggers who will talk about what their favorite books were from 2013.

Meet Ashley from The Roaming Reader:
Hi everyone! I'm Ashley Lauren - writer and blogger. I blog about books on The Roaming Reader - theroamingreader.com.
I have a lot of passions in life but the ones at the top of my list
are 1) writing 2) reading 3) my husband 4) traveling 5) eating gummy
bears - I'll admit those aren't always in the same order :-) I
currently live in Chicago although my home will always be Wisconsin.

1.)What was your favorite book from 2013?

Wild Cards by Simone Elkenes

2.)Why was Wild Cards your favorite book of 2013?

I've always enjoyed
Simone's work. Of all the young adult authors out there I feel like she
really gets the language and actions of teenagers - it's a struggle I
have in my own writing. Wild Cards in particular I think she nails it.
Ashtyn and Derek have problems that could easily be resolved with a
couple conversations but they have too much else going on. That being
said there are some "real" problems too - broken up families and
breaking through gender stereotypes. Aside from that it has great
dialogue, fun scenes, and some downright sexy moment. It's just a great
book to get lost in, even as an adult.

My name is Teresa and I run Readers Live A Thousand Lives (http://readerslive1000lives.com).
I have been blogging for about a year and a half now and I have loved
every second of it. I am obsessed with the color green, tootsie rolls,
and anything JLA related.

1.)What was your favorite book from 2013?

Just
one... just one? How am I expected to do that? There were so many books
I loved this year! But if I have to pick one *sigh* I guess I have to
go with Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare.

2.) Why was Clockwork Princess your favorite book of 2013?

I
have always loved the Shadowhunter world, but Will Herondale stole my
heart many years ago and he still hasn't given it back. I loved
everything about that book and I am pretty sure I cried the entire time I
spent reading it because of feelings. It is hands down my favorite
conclusion to a series ever!

3.)What was your favorite quote from Clockwork Princess?

Ahh this is tough to do spoiler free.... most of my favorites from this book contain spoilers, but this one is spoiler free “Life is a book and there are a thousand pages I have not yet read.”

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

Sweet Reckoning

By: Wendy Higgins

Release Date: April 29, 2014

"It’s time. Evil is running rampant and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody knows when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anything necessary to rid the earth of the demons and their oppressive ways. The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forces proves to be perilous—especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust sends Anna’s great love, Kaidan Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she’s prepared to risk. In the most sensual and fast-paced installment yet, Sweet Reckoning brings all the beloved Neph together one last time to fight for their freedom" (Summary from goodreads.com)

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

This
year I thought I would do something different with my end of the year
wrap up. For the next few days I will be featuring different Young Adult
bloggers who will talk about what their favorite books were from 2013. Meet Amanda from Cite Something:

I’m Amanda and I run the blog Cite Something, which focuses on reading, writing, and research tips for teenagers—mostly reading. Come visit me at www.citesomething.com, find me on Facebook (facebook.com/CiteSomething), and follow me on Twitter (@CiteSomething)1.)What was your favorite book from 2013?

I loved so many books that came out in 2013, and I’m seeing most of them ending up on all of the best of the year lists. My pick is a little offbeat. It’s Crap Kingdom by DC Pierson (Viking, 2013).

2.)Why was Crap Kingdom your favorite book of 2013?

I loved this book because it’s WEIRD. It’s an absurd and self-aware fantasy that messes with all of the conventions of what it means to be the Chosen One. It’s got broad appeal—it’s a funny fantasy couched in reality.

3.)What was your favorite quote from Crap Kingdom?

A favorite quote, from the king, talking about why negativity is one of the land’s most important values: "Our people are happier when their expectations are lower. The past was better than today, today is bad, and tomorrow will be worse. Viewed that way, anything that happens that is remotely good is very good…. Eventually, you are going to fail, and when that failure happens, you will feel even worse than you had when you started. So why start?” (pg 55)

The best young adult books are great stories that just
happen to feature teen characters—not books that authors intentionally dumb
down for a younger audience. Sanderson
provides such a story in Steelheart,
one skillfully written, complexly characterized, and intensely plotted. It is an edge-of-your seat read that teaches
the audience that trying to save the world, against all odds, is worth the
risks.

Monday, December 16, 2013

This year I thought I would do something different with my end of the year wrap up. For the next few days I will be featuring different Young Adult bloggers who will talk about what their favorite books were from 2013.

Just one?? Cruel! Because it's the freshest in my mind, I'll go with HOW TO LOVE by Katie Cotugno2.)Why was How to Love your favorite book of 2013?

What was really special to me about HOW TO LOVE was how real
the characters and their choices felt to me. There's so much discussion
in YA of "likable" characters and I feel like often authors forsake the
realities of adolescent choices in order to give us characters who act
as we'd want them to rather than as they would. This book felt brave and
honest to me in its explorations of many different kinds of
relationships - romantic, platonic, familial, and even a bit of
religious - and did so with lovely writing and a compelling story.

3.)What was your favorite quote from How to Love?

"I thought he'd be taller." (That was the point at which I
realized every character in this book had been given a real personality,
and no choices would be easy.)You can read Dahlia's full review of How to Love here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/615434059

1.)What was your favorite book from 2013?
There are so many amazing books to choose from, but I'd have to say
that one of my favorites released in 2013 would have to be Inhuman by Kat Falls.

2.) Why was Inhuman your favorite book of 2013?

I think I liked Inhuman
so much because it surprised me. One of my favorite genres is
post-apocalyptic/dystopians so when I saw the cover and synopsis of
Inhuman I thought it would be a fun end-of-the-world read, but what I
got felt like so much more than that. There was fantasy and adventure
and a love triangle that, for once, didn't make me want to pull my hair
out. Plus there's Rafe. I sort of fell in love with Rafe.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

The Taking

By: Kimberly Derting

Release Date: April 29, 2014

"A flash of white light . . . and then . . . nothing.When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn’t aged a day. Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men. Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?" (Summary from goodreads.com)

I'm so excited for The Taking because I'm a big fan of all of Kimberly Derting's previous books.

Penelope is a witch, part of a secret society protecting
humans from demon attacks. But when she was a child, a demon killed her
parents—and stole her magic. Since then, she’s been pretending to be something
she’s not, using her sister’s magic to hide her own loss, to prevent being sent
away.When she’s finally given the chance to join the elite demon-hunting force,
Penelope thinks that will finally change. With her sister’s help, she can
squeeze through the tests and get access to the information she needs to find
"her" demon. To take back what was stolen.Then she meets Carter. He’s cute, smart, and she can borrow his magic, too. He
knows her secret—but he also has one of his own.Suddenly, Penelope’s impossible quest becomes far more complicated. Because
Carter’s not telling her everything, and it’s starting to seem like the demons
have their own agenda…and they’re far too interested in her.

He leans back on the chair. "Sure. And I don’t think
you’re adorable." I jerk my eyes up. He’s smiling. Screw this—this is so
frustrating. I tap my foot under the table.

"We're stating the facts, right?" he says.

“Right,” I say.

I don’t have time for this. And what is wrong with this
coffee? I feel like I swallowed a fire and it’s all just burning at my stomach.

“You look sick again,” he says.

The poorly—or perfectly—timed waitress comes back with
Carter's coffee and a whole tray of drinks. Carter, obviously, flirts again. I
don’t know if he’s doing it to get a reaction out of me, but I’m not going to
give him one. I watch him and say nothing, but the whole time it feels darker
inside my head and my stomach whirs. It’s more empty, and more full, and
unsettled at once. The waitress turns to leave a when it happens.

The waitress coughs, as if she suddenly can’t breathe, and
trips. She flies across the air. The tray spills all over a table of four. I
gasp, horrified. Another waitress grabs her by the waist, trying to give her the
Heimlich. The waitress coughs out the gum. She’s crying hysterically,
apologizing to the customers dripping with water.

The weirdest part? As soon it happens, all the fury that was
building up inside of me disappears. It’s calm again, normal. The change is so
sudden that my fingernails dig into the table. All I can hear is the waitress’s
cry.

"I don't know what happened," she sobs over and
over again. I close my eyes. Everything inside me is completely still. No
storm, no clawing, no emptiness or fullness. In fact, I’m suddenly starving.

Carter's looking at me when I open my eyes. There's
something unsettling in his gaze, something suspicious.

“I gotta go,” I say. He starts to say something. I don't
stay long enough to find out what it is.

Somehow I just did magic.

About Danielle:

Danielle Ellison is from a small town in West Virginia. She
spent her childhood pretending to fly and talking to imaginary friends. When
she grew up, she finally flew away (in an airplane) and started traveling the
world. She hasn’t stopped yet, but someday she may decide to settle in one
place. Her real life friends would definitely like that; they would probably
also like if she stopped talking to her characters out loud.SALT comes out in January 2014, and then it's sequel. In October 2014, FOLLOW ME
THROUGH DARKNESS (book one of the BOUNDLESS Trilogy) comes out. She's got a
busy few years!

Disclaimer

All reviews published on this blog are based on books that I have either purchased myself or received from an author or publisher in exchange for an honest review. It is noted in the review whether I purchased a book myself or received the book from the publisher or author. I receive no compensation from any of the reviews that I publish. Unless otherwise noted, all photos used on this blog are from Google and are not owned by me.